(Wines&Vines) - An informal survey of winegrowers in the Sierra Foothills tells a generally optimistic story of the 2015 vintage. As with other California regions, a hot, dry season brought an early onset of harvest and smaller than typical yields, but winemakers describe quality as good.

Some 231 virtual and brick-and-mortar wineries operate within the Sierra Foothills region, spread among Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Mariposa, Nevada, Placer, Tuolumne and Yuba counties. Only Ironstone is considered a large producer, with more than 500,000 cases annually. Three others—Renwood Winery, Sobon Wine Co. and Terra d’Oro/Montevina are in the medium range: 50,000 to 499,000 cases per year. The remaining 227 are ranked from “limited” to “small,” according to Wines Vines Analytics.

The historic Gold Rush town of Murphys in Calaveras County is home to a concentration of wineries and tasting rooms. Members of the Calaveras Winegrape Alliance shared news of their growing season and harvest-to-date with Wines & Vines.